This is a painting from a series of artworks depicting the societal view of homosexuality and the discomfort many still feel towards homosexual relationships. This concept is shown through parallels physically seen in the work, trying to shock the audience into looking deeper at the work and themselves. This particular painting draws inspiration from Caravaggio’s ‘The Entombment of Christ’ to emphasise the contrast between religion and personal identity.
I aimed to capture the inherent societal/religious tension between masculinity and homosexuality, mirrored in the piece through the tension between the nude as a depiction of human naturalism and the nude as a sexual image. Having built my canvas, I then painted my artwork in a traditional baroque style, using a more modern pallet, trying to convey the symbolic contrast at first glance from surface level. My desire to paint this subject matter stems from my own personal reconciliation between my religious upbringing and my personal beliefs and identity.
